Note how Kirwan mentions the need for a TE to be vertical so that it can foil the “box” safety. While the Giants used Shockey to beat Williams, he was not used the other 13 games he started nearly as much in that ‘vertical’ capacity.

Note also how the need for today’s LB to have more lateral range is discussed. The LB today gets outsourced to either rushing the passer or pulled off the field for the nickel or dime defensive back because they are simply a liability in the middle of the field. This is why these 4th rounders do not make a whole lot of sense here… either you are drafting a LB with a lot of speed who can play all three downs or you almost should not bother. Is the hope here that Kehl or Goff turn into Brandon Short or Dhani Jones? Or is the objective to get a Jessie Armstead? If it were not for Armstead we would be talking 24 years ago at #1 Banks to get excited about a LB draft choice. Nowhere on the field is lack of speed more embarrassing than watching a LB in space on a pass route. Guys like Urlacher and Ray Lewis made their defenses dominant because they were an asset on those plays instead of liability. Do not forget that Pierce was a liability on the first touchdown pass (interference penalty) of the Super Bowl. We need to cover that vertical TE!

*Are these picks weak? No. *Are any of them particularly exciting? We obviously have to wait for the jury on Wilkinson, DeOssie (as a LB, not his good specials), Goff and Kehl. *See a trend? No doubt about it. *Are you thinking what I am thinking? Yep, another patch job.

Reggie Torbor/Brandon Short/Dhani Jones… these guys helped our team, but did any of them make you feel that they were going to help the defense impose their will on the other team’s offense? They did their jobs, and once in a while they made a nice play, but that was it. Is that what we have in store for ourselves with one of the last lot? We certainly went for defensive help in the secondary by drafting a Safety in Round 1 and a Cornerback in Round 2. If these guys in the secondary can be big and strong and play the run big and strong, then the Giants by default become this 4-2-5 nickel defense, or even 5-1-5 when they rush that fifth man (remember Kawika Mitchell in the Super Bowl) to keep the pressure on the QB. LB gets outsourced.